Outside frame for side-opening cabin-type tents



J. E. MORRIS 3,454,021 OUTSIDE FRAME FOR SIDE-OPENING CABIN-TYPE TENTSJuly 8, 1969 Filed Aug. 28, 1967 INVENTOR. James (3, LOT/i5 UnitedStates Patent US. Cl. 135-1 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Atent-supporting frame disposed entirely outside the tent and made up ofa number of initially separate parts which, when assembled in connectionwith certain elements on the tent, maintain the tent in a fully erectedand taut condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In many types of tent frames, comprised ofinitially separate parts, difficulty has been encountered in that theframe (whether inside or outside type) was difiicult to manuallyassemble and when assembled did not always maintain the tentsufficiently taut. The present invention is directed to a tent frame notsubject to such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, as a majorobject, an outside frame-for a rectangular tent-in which the differentframe parts are arranged for quick and easy connection without the useof tools and, when assembled in proper order, are engaged in cooperatingrelation with certain elements on the outside of the tent sothat-without more-the tent is effectively held erected and quite taut.

The frame includes, with ground pegs, a pair of pegengaging brace polesextending downwardly in converging relation adjacent each sidewall ofthe tent; the present invention providing, as another object, a novelassembly of such brace poles with eave poles, ridge jacks, and a ridgepole wherebywhen said brace poles are engaged at their lower ends withcertain ground pegsthe tent is braced in all directions.

The present invention provides, as an additional object, an outside tentframe comprised in its substantial entirety of a plurality of initiallyseparate, straight parts-of lightweight tubular metalwhich can bereadily and conveniently stacked together as a compact bundle fortransport or storage with the tent when folded.

The present invenion provides, as a further object, an outside frame-forside-opening cabin-type tents-which is designed for ease and economy ofmanufacture, and con venience of use.

The present invention provides, as a still further object, a. practical,reliable, and a durable outside frame for sideopening cabin-type tents,and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it isdesigned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theimproved outside tent frame as erected with and supporting a tent; thelatter being mainly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged end elevation of the ridge portion ofthe tent, showing the corresponding ridge pole-engaging tab mountedthereon.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal elevation of the ridgeportion of the tent at one end thereof, showing the connection meansbetween said ridge portion, the ridge pole, and the adjacent upstandingridge jack.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing the connection between thelower end of one ridge jack and the adjacent transverse eave pole.

3,454,021 Patented July 8, 1969 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters ofreference marked thereon, the tent to which the present and improvedoutside frame is applied-is of rectangular cabin-type, and includessidewalls 1 sloping somewhat toward each other to their upper ends, andsubstantially parallel endwalls 2. A base flange 3 projects outwardlyall about the tent from the sidewalls 1 and endwalls 2, and which flangeis provided at predetermined points in its extent with grommets 4 toreceive hold-down or anchoring, ground pegs 5 which are formed withupwardly rounded heads 6.

The tent additionally includes opposed longitudinal roof portions 7,extending upwardly from the sidewalls 1 to a junction with each otherand forming a ridge 8; the end spaces between the roof portions 7 andthe endwalls 2 being enclosed by substantially vertical eave panels 9.

The tent is detachably supported by a knockdown, outside frame indicatedgenerally at 10; such frame together with certain elements on the tent,embodying the invention, and being constructed as follows:

A longitudinally adjustable ridge pole 11 is adapted to extend the fulllength of and directly above the ridge 8. Ridge jacks 13 depend from theends of the ridge pole 11 and are detachably connected thereto and tothe tent, as indicated generally at 12 (see FIG. 3) and as laterdescribed in detail. These ridge jacks 13 are formed at their lower endswith saddles 14 (see FIG. 4) which are shaped to engage over horizontal,longitudinally adjustable eave poles 15; the latter being arranged toextend transversely of the tent for the full width thereof at the baseof the eave portions 9 on the outside of and immediately adjacent thesame.

Longitudinally adjustable brace poles: 16 depend from the ends of theeave poles 15, and are detachably connected thereto and to the adjacentcorners of the tent, as indicated generally at 17 (see FIG. 5) and aslater described in detail.

The brace poles 16 are disposed substantially parallel to andimmediately adjacent the corresponding sidewalls 1 of the tent, but oneach side of the tent the related poles extend at a downward angletoward each other or converge downwardly as clearly shown in FIG. 1. Attheir lower ends, the brace poles 1 6 are provided with round socketed,plastic feed 18 adapted to swivelly engage with the heads 6 of adjacentpegs 5 in holding relation.

The connection 12 between each end of the ridge pole 11 and the adjacentridge jack 13, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a plastic cap 19 on the endof the pole 11; said cap having a somewhat flexible pin 20 provided witha slightly bulbous head as shown. The tent ridge, at the correspondingend, is provided With an upstanding tab 21 having a grommeted hole 22 ofa size to receive the pin 20, while the upper end of the related ridgejack 13 is provided with a plastic cap 23 having an upstanding flexibleand resilient tongue 24 orificed for snug passage of the bulbous head ofpin 20.

Similarly, each connection 17, between the eave poles 15 and thedepending brace poles 16, as shown in FIG. 5, includes a bulbous-headpin 25 projecting from the related end of the pole 15 and adapted toextend through a grommeted tab 26 upstanding from the adjacent sidewallcorner of the tent. A flexible and resilient tongue 27 upstands from theupper end of the adjacent brace pole 16, and such tongue is orificed toreceive the pin 25 therethrough, outwardly of the tab 26.

The tent and its described supporting frame are erected as follows:

The tent is first located in the desired position, and the base flange 3is then anchored to the ground, first at the corners, and then inbetween by means of the ground pegs 5. The ridge pole 11 is theninstalled, being passed through one or more flexible loops 28 on andextending upwardly from the ridge 8 intermediate its ends.

The end pins 20 on the ridge pole 11 are then passed through the tabs21, and the ridge pole is adjusted-41? necessary-until the ridge istaut. The cave poles are then installed; the end pins 25 thereof beingpassed through the tabs 26 and the poles 15 adjustedif necessary-untilthe cave panels 9 are taut.

The tongues 24 of the ridge jacks 13 are then snapped onto the pins ofthe ridge pole 11, and the ridge pole and tent ridge or roof portions 7are then raised so as to enable the saddles 14 on said jacks tomatchingly seat on the related eave poles 15.

The tongues 27 on the upper ends of the brace poles 16 are then snappedover the projecting pins of the cave poles 15, and the feet 18 of saidbrace poles are engaged over the heads 6 of related ground pegs 5; thelatter being set so that the brace poles on each side of the tent are indownwardly converging relation when in peg engagement. The brace poles16 are tl1enif necessary adjusted upwardly until the tent is taut allaround.

It should be noted that one of the sidewalls 1 of the tent, 'between thecorresponding brace poles 16, is formed with a doorway opening 29,normally covered by a flap which forms a door. A window (not shown) ispreferably formed in the other sidewall 1 opposite the door.

By reason of the frame mounting and positioning arrangement hereindescribed, a very firm and stable tent supporting structure is providedwhich is entirely on the outside of the tent, and which can be quicklyand easily manipulated, either to erect the tent or to enable the sameto be taken down.

Also, due to the angularity of the brace poles 16 in both directionsrelative to a vertical plane, the tent is effectively held taut andadequately braced against wind action from any direction.

While herein described for use with a side-opening tent, the frame canbe used with an end-opening tent, or a tent which is both side andend-opening.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such an outside frame for side-opening cabin-type tents assubstantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forthherein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the outside frame for sideopening cabin-type tents,still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to asdo not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In the combination of an outside frame, a framesupported tent ofrectangular form in plan and having a longitudinal ridge, angular roofportions depending from the ridge and sidewalls depending from the loweredges of the roof portions, and tent-anchoring ground pegs arranged inhold-down relation to said sidewalls; the frame comprising alongitudinal ridge pole directly above and adjacent the ridge, meansdetachably connecting the ridge pole at its ends to the tent, transverseave poles spanning between corresponding lower corners of the roofportions, means detachably connecting the eave poles at their ends tothe tent adjacent said corners, vertical ridge jacks detachablyconnected to the ends of the ridge pole and extending downward todetachable engagement with the eave poles intermediate the ends thereof,brace poles extending downward to adjacent the ground from the ends ofthe cave poles, means detachably connecting the brace poles at theirupper ends to the related ends of the eave poles, and means includingsaid tentanchoring ground pegs disengageably supporting the brace polesat their lower ends; the means detachably connecting the brace poles tothe eave poles comprising ins projecting from the ends of the eavepoles, and flexible and resilient tongues on and projecting upwardlyfrom the upper ends of the brace poles, said tongues being orificed andreceiving the pins therethrough,

2. A frame, as in claim 1, in which the outer end of each pin is ofenlarged bulbous form and of a size to provide snug passage through thecorresponding tongue orifice.

3. A frame, as in claim 1, with orificed tabs on the tent at the ends ofthe eave poles; said tabs receiving the corresponding pins of eave polestherethrough, with the tabs disposed between the adjacent ends of theeave poles and the related tongues of brace poles.

4. In the combination of an outside frame, a frame supported tent ofrectangular form in plan and having a longitudinal ridge, angular roofportions depending from the ridge and sidewalls depending from the loweredges of the roof portions, and tent-anchoring ground pegs arranged inhold-down relation to said sidewalls; the frame comprising alongitudinal ridge pole directly above and adjacent the ridge, pinsprojecting from the ends of the ridge pole, orificed tabs on the tent atthe ends of the ridge, said tabs receiving the ridge pole pinstherethrough, transverse eave poles spanning horizontally betweencorresponding lower corners of the roof portions, pins projecting fromthe ends of the cave poles, other orificed tabs on the tent adjacentsaid corners, said other tabs receiving the cave pole pins therethrough,vertical ridge acks at the ends of the tent extending from the ridgepole downwardly to the horizontal eave poles, flexible and resilientorificed tongues upstanding from the upper ends of the ridge jacks, saidtongues receiving the ridge pole pins therethrough outside said firstnamed tabs, the lower ends of the ridge jacks being of saddle form andseating on the eave poles, brace poles extending downwardly to adjacentthe ground from the ends of the cave poles, other flexible and resilientorificed tongues upstanding from the upper ends of the brace poles, saidother tongues receiving the cave pole pins therethrough outside saidother tabs, the brace poles on each side of the tent extendingdownwardly in converging relation, and socketed feet on the lower endsof the brace poles engaging on related and adjacent ground pegs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,064 5/1925 Skog -13,212,512 10/ 1965 Morris. 3,263,692 8/1966 Questi et a1. 1353 FOREIGNPATENTS 677,066 6/ 1939 Germany.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner.

US C X-R. 1 3s-3, s

